Perhaps you, whoever is reading this article, are completely fluent in several languages and you’re able to channel the inner cultures of all languages. For that I applaud you, but for now, we can laugh together at my struggles of only learning one other language.
For context, the only language I can speak, write, and understand fluently is English. My second language is Cantonese and while I am not necessarily fluent in it (meaning I can’t confidently read or write), I do feel comfortable enough to hold conversations. With that being said, here are two issues I’ve faced (and most likely others have faced as well) with being bilingual:
1. Identity Crisis
This is more of a given reason, anyone with different backgrounds that they identify with is most likely to have questioned themselves at one point: which background do I belong to? Which language am I supposed to think in? I speak Cantonese at home but English in public, so does that make me less Chinese?
Because I was born and raised in the U.S., I’m not the most in touch with all Chinese customs and traditions. I really try to be involved with family gatherings and community celebrations, but there will always be things harder for me to grasp. I have met people who disregarded learning about their culture when they were young in order to fit in with American society. While I don’t believe I ever felt discouraged from learning Cantonese myself, what could have led me to be less fluent was that I equally valued speaking both English and Cantonese. This, as a result, could have led to my limited Cantonese vocabulary. Or, I could have always just been lazy (who knows?!). Whatever the case was caused me to have a language barrier between my myself and my cousins, who were mostly all born and raised in Asia. This eventually leads to…
2. Finding a Balance Between the Two Languages
Some of you might ask, “Well Joyce, if you have a language barrier between you and your family, how do you talk to them?” The answer is: I don’t.
I’m just kidding, that answer is only partially true.
The way I talk to my cousin consists of a half English, half Cantonese medley of words and dashes of Google Translate and Google Images if I happen to come across something I don’t know. Although I have some cousins who speak English, my other cousins will just have to deal with my creative explanations.
Another reason why balancing the two languages is hard is that over time, you start to forget them for a while. Whenever I go on vacation back to Asia, they are normally one-month trips. During my time there, I find out that there are some Cantonese words that I had forgotten. However, because the stay is so long, I am able to rebuild my Cantonese vocabulary. When I go back to America, I find myself texting my friends in choppy sentences and forgetting words that are just on the tip of my tongue. Yet again, because of school, my friends, and just everyday life, I am able to build my English vocabulary again. Once I go back on vacation, the entire process starts all over again.
I may have worded it a bit strange, but the minor gaps in my vocabulary are not severe. It’s just words that I barely use that I forget for a split second. Although it may seem annoying to try to maintain the two languages, I believe it’s a huge payoff in order to visit my relatives and friends in both Asia and America.
While it may seem like a struggle trying to balance the two languages, I actually see a benefit to them. There are many times when I am unable to express myself in English, I am able to in Cantonese and vice versa. This has led me to appreciate both languages because of my reliance on them equally. In a way, my way of interpreting things and my morals are based on both American and Chinese values, making my background more unique. Overall, the moral of the story is: Learn how to use Google Translate.